Wrestler Sami Zayn may be flying high here, but who knows what’ll happen when he competes during the WWE Live Holiday Tour’s stop at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Saturday. Below, Montreal native Sami Zayn.Photos courtesy of WWE

Body slammed for the holidays?

Pro wrestling has been so popular for so long, and so ingrained in our cultural consciousness, that now it’s become a treasured part of the holiday season. Trim the tree, light the lights, bake some gingerbread and then go watch some grapplers tossing each other out of the ring.

The WWE Live Holiday Tour will be at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland Saturday with some two dozen big-name wrestlers. The same wrestlers fans see on TV will be in Portland, with holiday cheer in their hearts and destruction on their minds.

One of the wrestlers on the card, Montreal native Sami Zayn, is looking forward to driving down to Portland a day early and taking in some sights. He’s heard the area has some beautiful coastal scenery and great food.

But once he steps into the ring, he won’t be a starry-eyed tourist, he’ll be the brash, loud-mouthed, arrogant cuss fans have come to loathe. In wrestling, it means you’re doing your job well if people hate you.

Wrestler Sami Zayn will be grappling for you holiday enjoyment, when the WWE Live Holiday Tour comes to Cross Insurance Arena in Portland Saturday.

“What we do is take people on a journey, help people forget about life for a while. We give them people they want to cheer on and people they want to slap in the face,” said Zayn, 33. “And it’s rewarding for us, as athletes, to be able to do things we do in the ring.”

Yes, pro wrestling is not a real competitive sport, like baseball or football. It’s more theater combined with sports. But the flying through the air, the incredible kicks, the tossing of 250-pound humans around like basketballs — that’s really happening.

And the passion, from both fans and wrestlers, is real. Zayn, for instance, wrestled for small, independent wrestling outfits in Quebec for about a decade before getting his shot at the big time with the WWE about five years ago.

On the independent circuit, he wrestled for very little money in bars, garages, comics stores and community centers. He’s wrestled in front of 20 people, in a rec center in rural Quebec, and in front of more than 100,000 people last year at WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Zayn grew up wanting to be a hockey player or a wrestler. He remembers watching Hulk Hogan, clad in yellow and posing his sculpted body, and just being in awe.

“I remember watching with my dad and seeing Hulk Hogan, drenched in sweat and blood after the fight of his life,” said Zayn. “I loved every aspect of it, the athleticism, the drama, the theatrics.”

Zayn never played organized hockey, partly because of the expense and the time demands, and by his teen years he was focused on wrestling. He was lucky enough to find an indie wrestler willing to train him. Then he put in his dues.

The event in Portland will feature a championship match between AJ Styles and Jinder Mahal, a three-way championship match between Bobby Roode, Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin, and a tag-team championship between The Usos and Benjamin & Gable. There’s also a women’s championship “Fatal Five-Way” match with Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Natalya, Carmella and Tamina.

Zayn thinks the continued appeal of wrestling lies in its combination of escapism and athletic feats of daring.

“At the end of the day, it’s characters and stories; it’s the same reason people go to the movies,” said Zayn. “People need a little break from reality, which can be pretty tough sometimes.”

WWE Live Holiday Tour

]]>Portland’s favorite food and drink in 2017http://mainetoday.com/eat-drink/portlands-favorite-food-drink-2017/
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:14:30 +0000http://mainetoday.com/?p=165633Let’s face it: Portland is food- and drink-obsessed. And, frankly, so are we. So, we decided to see what the most popular stories were from our Eat & Run and Bar Guide columns this year, to gauge what was tickling Portland’s taste buds. Although there was the most enthusiasm for new places, from a wood-fired pizza joint to fast-casual poke, readers also showed their loyalty to a beloved dive bar, a fondness for crepes and no fear of heights. Here were our top 10 food and drink columns from 2017:

Staff photo by Derek Davis

10. Lazzari

Many of Lazzari’s patrons might not even remember Mesa Verde, the Mexican restaurant that occupied the Congress Street spot until 2014 — about the same time talk surfaced about the owner of Taco Escobarr taking over the space. After years of planning and renovations, Lazzari opened to the open arms of the Arts District. Despite its proximity to the original location of much-loved Otto, this pizza place offers something different than the slice bar — for one thing, booze, including a bevy of bellinis and spritzers, but also small, shareable plates and a more upscale atmosphere. And it serves its full menu until 1 a.m. daily, appealing to fellow restaurant workers.

9. Cafe Crepe

It was hard to watch the closure of K. Horton Speciality Foods, with its hunks of cheese and handwritten labels that gave the Public Market an old-world air, but with it, another door opened — to something else with a European flair: crepes. Even if you’re unsure the right way to say it (crape? krep?) or what accent to put where, it’s hard to debate the deliciousness of crepes with fillings for every craving, from eggs at breakfast to meat and cheese at lunch to Nutella for dessert. Although there’s still some turnover, the Public Market seems to be finding its sweet spot, serving a variety of cuisines to satisfy the whims of business district’s lunch crowd, and crepes fit right in.

8. Big Fin Poke

Mainers got their first taste of poke, the Hawaiian raw fish dish that’s been infiltrating the Lower 48, with the opening of this fast-casual Westbrook joint. Apparently we liked it enough to encourage the owners to open a second location in South Portland. If you’re not familiar with this food trend, it’s like a deconstructed sushi bowl that you order Chipotle-style, picking your protein (mostly fish), choosing lettuce or rice as the base, and adding a sauce, mix-ins and toppings, like seaweed, avocado, crispy garlic or chili flakes. The Press Herald’s restaurant reviewer calculated that, from Big Fin’s build-your-own menu, you could order 3.2 billion unique combinations of ingredients. We don’t do a lot of math around here, so we’ll take his word for it.

7. Flip Creperie

We warned you about the crepes. They’ve been popping up all over the place, and South Portland’s Willard Square is one of the lucky neighborhoods to get a creperie of its own. Flip started flipping its version of the paper-thin pancakes in July with some simple fillings, like butter and sugar or a medley of cheeses, and others more complex, like the French Farm, with roasted chicken, potatoes, onion soubise and dijon mustard, or the French Breakfast Custard, with an egg custard-cake and brandied prunes.

6. Lincolns

Clearly Lincolns has been a success, as the owners have recently opened a second location in Burlington, Vermont, sticking with its same two gimmicks — secret-passageway entrance and single price point: $5 for everything (hence the name). Even though there’s no sign and the address is kept under wraps, people are managing to find the place, packing it on weekends and for comedy nights when the cover is, you guessed it, $5.

5. Rooftop deck at Bayside Bowl

Something (h)uuuuuge happened this year, and it had nothing to do with Donald Trump. Bayside Bowl opened its rooftop deck, part of a multimillion-dollar renovation that also included new lanes, a new mezzanine and three new bars, most notably, the one on the roof. With rose sangria, frozen drinks and the best craft beers you can get in a can, it was probably the hottest spot to be in Portland this summer. Completing the ultra-hip vibe was the Airstream trailer that served as a taco truck.

4. Noble Barbecue

Our resident, in-office Southerner declared the new Noble Barbecue the best around, and we’re inclined to believe her. In the former home of Taco Trio on Forest Avenue, this BBQ joint is serving up monster, meaty sandwiches, brisket, loaded fries and a lot more. If you want to make your mouth water, follow Noble on Instagram. It’s almost unbearable.

3. Downtown Lounge

This place was hipster before most of Portland’s hipsters were even born. We’re actually not sure exactly when it opened because it doesn’t have website or Facebook page, solidifying its aforementioned hipsterness. Retro booths and solid food elevate DTL, as its known, from dive status, unless you’re judging it solely on its Post-It-sized bathrooms, but the atmosphere is super casual and the happy hour specials are some of the best around. We don’t know why this review took off, but can only assume it’s because so many people love this place.

2. Dessert drinks

Apparently Portland’s got a sweet tooth. This selection of the city’s finest places to get dessert drinks, beyond your typical espresso martini, included Opium and its Sake Snow Cone (pictured); Sur Lie, for its cordials, ports and dessert wines; The North Point, which serves a caramel vanilla bourbon drink and a martini with smoothie-like raspberry puree, and (duh) Bar of Chocolate, particularly for its Peanut Butter Cup martini. So next time you go out to a fancy dinner in the Old Port, cap your night with one of these delights.

1. Izakaya Minato

You could point to the opening of Izakaya Minato as the turning point for inner Washington Avenue between up-and-coming and arrived. Terlingua and Drifter’s Wife set the stage, and The Shop and Cong Tu Bot brought it home. But, in between, came Izakaya Minato, a Japanese gastropub that had the makings of everything Portland loves – as evidenced by our web analytics – and it chose inner Washington, the still-gritty on-ramp to I-295 that separates the gentrified Munjoy Hill from the industrial brewery hub of East Bayside. OK, it kind of makes perfect sense.

Get ready, Portland. You may soon have access to drive-through dumplings and crab rangoon.

That’s the plan, anyway, at the new Sun Bakery Restaurant on Forest Avenue, where I was told the drive-through – a remnant of Thurston’s Wicked Good Burgers – is ready to go, but they don’t have enough employees to run it yet. (The restaurant is just over two weeks old.)

Dumplings

For now, you’ll have to park your car in the small lot and go inside to order. And you should because this place deserves a fighting chance. It’s not Empire or Bao Bao Dumpling House or Sichuan Kitchen, but that’s OK. It’s not meant to be. It is, however, better than the usual fast-food-style Asian restaurant. The ingredients appear fresh, the service is fast, and the prices are really reasonable. An order of four pork egg rolls is just $4, as is a banh mi, if you’d prefer a sandwich. Eight dumplings, steamed or fried, are $5.50, and bowls of pho are $9 for beef and $8.50 for chicken. The most expensive items on the menu are anything containing shrimp. Whether it’s shrimp lo mein or shrimp fried rice, it all costs $12.

The odd thing about this place is that it is also a bakery. Not an Asian bakery, offering different varieties of fruity buns and cake rolls, but a standard bakery that makes doughnuts, giant apple fritters and other American-style pastries. It’s a weird juxtaposition, seeing two cases filled with muffins and cinnamon buns and croissants, and then right above it a brightly lit menu filled with photos of pad Thai and spring rolls. Breakfast sandwiches ($3.80) are also available on bagels and English muffins.

The restaurant has a coffee bar and a soda fountain, or you can order a Vietnamese coffee or Thai tea for $3.

Pork egg rolls

I stopped in for dinner and wanted to try so many things I ended up getting two dinners and a lunch out of my order. (Yay, leftovers.) The pork egg rolls were crispy but not too greasy, and the dumplings were long, thin, and a little chewy – not the round, fat dumplings often served at similar restaurants. And that crab rangoon? It had the same shape and chewiness as the dumplings, but I confess I liked the filling. I’m not sure what they put into them besides the usual bland combination of imitation crab meat and cream cheese, but these were not bland.

Chicken lemongrass with rice

For an entree, I tried the chicken lemongrass with rice ($8.50), which came with well-cooked (not clumpy) white rice, chunks of white meat chicken and a ton of vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, celery, onion, green beans, and both green and red peppers. The vegetables were perfect — cooked through, but they still had a little bite to them. The lemongrass flavor was very subtle, and at times I found myself wanting more, something to elevate it above a simple stir-fry.

I also tried the spring rolls with shrimp, which were incredibly fresh, if not exactly bursting with shrimp. This was the only shrimp item that didn’t cost $12, so maybe that’s why. The order consisted of two rolls cut in half, and each of the four pieces contained one whole, medium-sized shrimp.

I wanted to sample the pho, but my order was already so large I’m saving that for another day. On the night I visited, though, the only other customer in the place downed a huge, steaming bowl of the beef pho and I heard him tell guy at the counter on the way out that it was “excellent.”

There’s plenty of seating at Sun Bakery, partly because people have not discovered it yet, but also because a lot of customers appear to be ordering take-out. I have a feeling that, when it opens, the drive-through will be plenty busy.

Check this place out, and give it a chance. I will be going back for after-work or weekend take-out — but probably not for the pastries.

Lantern Tours

5:30 to 8 p.m., tours every 30 minutes. Thursday. Portland Observatory Museum, 138 Congress St., Portland, $5 at
the door. portlandlandmarks.orgGreater Portland Landmarks invites you to a special guided lantern tour of the Portland Observatory to
catch a view of Portland at night. The gift shop will be open with observatory gifts, and local Munjoy Hill artist
Dominic White will be there with his work. The observatory was built in the early 1800s and is not heated, so dress
accordingly and head for the hill. This is a one-night-only deal and tickets are on a first-come, first-served
basis.Staff photo by Ben McCanna

Cocktails & Comedy Holiday Show

8 p.m. Thursday. Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland, $12 in advance, $15 at the door, 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.comNeed a little holiday decompression time? Few things are more restorative than laughter. Add to that a
festive drink and you'll thank yourself later for a fun night out. Cocktails & Comedy will properly crack you up
and will remind you just how funny life can be. You'll be treated to the wise-cracking hilarity of Dawn Hartill,
Phoebe Angle, Karen Morgan, Kate Ghiloni and headliner Stef Doyle. This is not a show for the faint of heart – or
humor – but it is one that will have you busting a gut — big time.Everett
Collection/Shutterstock.com

Dough Ball Preview Party

5:30 p.m. Friday. Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave., $20 in advance, $30 day of party. boothbayoperahouse.comHelp support the restoration of Boothbay Harbor's Opera House while dancing to a live band, noshing on hors
d'oeuvres from the Friends of the Opera House and sipping cocktails from the cash bar. Best of all, the Dough Ball
preview party allows you to see all the entries in this year's Gingerbread Spectacular, and you'll even be privy to
knowing the winners! As for dress, everything goes, from your favorite jeans and Bean boots to that tuxedo or ball
gown tucked away in your closet.Photo courtesy of Opera House at Boothbay Harbor

Eimskip Scandinavian Northern Lights Christmas Charity Event

6 to 10 p.m. Friday. Ocean Gateway, 14 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland, $125. eventbrite.comEnjoy a Scandinavian-themed holiday party complete with a succulent spread prepared by Portland Hunt &
Alpine Club. You can also purchase beer, wine and the most enticing beverage of the night, Glögg, Sweden's
signature festive drink. Icelandic DJ sensation Hermigervill will be throwing beats down all night and you can also
hit the walk-through art exhibit and partake in some incredible raffles for prizes that include a trip to Iceland.
What's more, all proceeds will go to the Cancer Community Center, so you'll very much be helping others while you
help yourself to a sensational Scandinavian soirée.Sonya Illustration/Shutterstock.com

Gingerbread Spectacular

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave., free, donations
accepted. boothbayoperahouse.comYou'll feast your eyes and feel a sudden, strange urge to eat doors, windows, roofs, fences and every other
part of the annual display of gingerbread houses in Boothbay Harbor. Professional bakers, amateurs and children all
compete for prizes awarded for most ingredients used, best holiday spirit, most obsessive compulsive, best
landscaping and most spectacular, among other fun categories. Depending on when you stop in, you'll likely hear and
see a live musical performance to further entice your senses.Photo courtesy of Opera House at Boothbay
Harbor

Vintage Bazaar New England: Holiday Edition

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Brick South at Thompson's Point, Portland, $10, $15 for
weekend pass, free for 16 and under. mybazaarlife.comThere's still time to find something unique for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list. Head to
Thompson's Point this weekend for a two-day show featuring vintage finds, repurposed goods, architectural salvage,
fine foods and handcrafted wares from more than 85 vendors. Also, there's no law against treating yourself to a
one-of-a-kind treasure, provided you've been reasonably good this
year.Trekandshoot/Shutterstock.com

Boat Parade of Lights

4:30 p.m. Saturday. Casco Bay Lines, 56 Commercial St., Portland, $10. cascobaylines.comIt's one thing seeing holiday lights on houses, it's another thing altogether seeing them on boats out on
Casco Bay. The annual Boat Parade of Lights cruise is sold out, but you can enjoy it from the shore along
Portland's Eastern Promenade. Dozens of boats of various sizes participate in a very merry floating parade, and you
might even see a Santa or two behind the captain's wheel.Staff photo by Gordon Chibroski

Seanachie Nights Celtic Solstice

7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18. Bull Feeney's, 375 Fore St., Portland, $9 suggested donation. lynnecullen.comSeanachie Nights is a series of stories and music from Celtic and British culture. This month's performance
features musician and storyteller Kate Chadbourne who will be sharing her Celtic solstice tales with harp, piano,
tin whistle, Irish flute, melodian and a huge love for traditional Irish storytelling. Chadbourne holds a doctorate
in Celtic languages and literature from Harvard University, where she teaches courses in Irish language and
folklore. She has also published two collections of poetry.Kate Vigdis/Shutterstock.com

Kotzschmar Christmas with Cornils

7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $32 to $56. porttix.comMunicipal organist Ray Cornils will be playing his annual Christmas show for the last time this year on the
7,101-pipe Kotschmar organ, accompanied by the voices of ChoralArt singers and the Kotzschmar Festival Brass in a
show of gorgeous and glorious holiday songs. Cornils has been playing the Kotzschmar for an incredible 28 years,
and he'll be sorely missed seated behind all those keys and pedals. So, come out and say a heartfelt thanks to Ray
as you enjoy arrangements of "Wassail, Wassail All Over Town," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "O Holy Night,"
among many others.Staff photo by Ben McCanna

Tracy Grammer

8 p.m. Thursday. One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland, $15 in advance, $20 day of show. onelongfellowsquare.comHelp fantastic singer-songwriter Tracy Grammer honor the memory of her late musical partner Dave Carter by
catching her show at One Longfellow Square. Carter passed away unexpectedly in 2002, and since then, Grammer has
continued on a musical path releasing a number of solo albums. In 2012, she released "Little Blue Egg," a
collection of intimate recordings from her and Carter, done in their home studio. Expect a stirring evening of song
that showcases Grammer's lovely voice and songwriting.Photo by Ben Barnhart

Songs of the Season

7 p.m. Friday. First Parish Congregational Church, 116 Main St., Yarmouth, $12, $10 for 12 and under. 317main.org317 Main invites you to its third annual Songs of the Season holiday show starring an ensemble of its vocal
instructors called The Main Street Revelers. You'll hear holiday classics with some originals thrown in sung by
Jeff Christmas, Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, Emilia Dahlin, Diana Hansen, Bran Longfellow and Kathy Slack. You'll also
enjoy several short performances by student groups. Show up at 6:30 p.m. for cocoa and caroling on the church's
front steps. Then when the show lets out, head to Gather Restaurant and order off its special $5 drink and dessert
menu.Photo courtesy of 317 Main Community Music Center

Adam Ezra Group

8:30 p.m. Saturday. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland, $15 in advance, $18 day of show, $30
preferred seating, 18-plus. portcitymusichall.comRoots rocker Adam Ezra and his band put on one heck of a live show with infectious energy and Ezra's
effervescent stage presence. Ezra forged a songwriting partnership last year with John Oates of Hall & Oates, and
you'll hear some of those tunes along with a boatload of other ones at this show. Arrive on time because Maine-
based Jason Spooner band is opening the show.Photo courtesy of the artist

Sons of Quint

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19. Bunker Brewing Co., 17 Westfield St., Portland. On FacebookBunker Brewing will be open on a day they're normally closed for a very special night of beer and music.
The Toy Fund Tap Takeover features the music of Sons of Quint who will be playing a fantastic mix of blues, classic
rock, country rock and more. Your belly will also be happy when you feed it Korean-Mexican fusion in the form of
tacos, burritos and bowls from the Tacos Del Seoul food truck. There's no cover charge to get in but consider a
donation of cash for the Portland Press Herald oy Fund. The fund pays for holiday gifts for children in
need.Photo courtesy of the artist

When I first spoke to artist, filmmaker and College of the Atlantic film professor Nancy Andrews back in January of this year, it was to learn more about her ambitiously bizarre film-turned-web series “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes.” Well, now the rest of the country is learning about the talents of Andrews and the film’s star, Michole Briana White. The pair, along with production designer Dru Colbert, were all in New York last month to receive the award for best short-form breakthrough series at this year’s Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) Gotham Awards.

Dru Colbert, Michole Briana White and Nancy Andrews at the Gotham Awards in New York City. Photos courtesy of Nancy Andrews

Andrews’s series about a pioneering scientist (White) whose animal experiments gradually transform her into something … unexpected won the award over projects from well-known artists like John Early (“Search Party”) and Kate Berlant (“555”) and Zoe Cassavetes (“Junior”). The Mount Desert Island-filmed series also took home its honors on the same night as the likes of Jordan Peele (“Get Out”), TV’s “Atlanta” and probable Oscar nominee (at the least) Saoirse Ronan of “Lady Bird.”

Watch the trailer:

Back home in Maine, Andrews talked about the experience of her surprise win, what’s next for “Dr. Myes,” and how a scrappy Maine-made sci-fi, musical drama vaulted to national attention.

First off, congratulations. You, Michole White and Dru Colbert all attended the awards show. What was that experience like?

For one thing, it was just a strange coincidence that we were already there. Michole lives in L.A., and we were meeting in New York to work on a continuance of “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes” – it will have some more fantastical elements but still be about the same characters – when we got the notice. As for the night, it was my first red carpet sort of experience – lot of flashbulbs, lot of people yelling, “Now look at my lens!” (Laughs.) Basically, if you’ve been to a big wedding or other big event, you get the idea, although here, we’d turn around and say, “Oh, there’s Ethan Hawke, there’s Dustin Hoffman, there’s Mary J. Blige.” We did wind up in a line with Dee Reese, who directed “Mudbound” (the Gotham-nominated feature starring Blige), which was a lot of fun.

What was it like when you won?

Well, we were at a table with the people from (woman-centric media organization) Refinery29, and some of them filmed us on their phones just going crazy. (Laughs.) I don’t remember my speech, but I managed to thank almost everyone except the people of Mount Desert Island, who were so great to us. I feel like a lot of the slate were much more well-known than we were, so it was a real shock. I was pretty shaken up.

For a filmmaker from Maine, does your win in such a prestigious setting open up new opportunities?

You know, my first impulse was that it doesn’t matter. We were told by more savvy people that we need to take this moment, where we’re bright and shiny, to make some connections, though, so that’s what we’re working on now. We’re not independently wealthy, and this does bring us to the attention of people in the business who are connected to money and other platforms.

You put “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes” on YouTube.

That was sort of out of necessity, although I did want the access to it to be sort of democratic. That said, I am a professional filmmaker, and the people in all our key positions were professional. Sometimes being on YouTube is like screaming into a maelstrom. There’s so much out there, how can you be heard? The goal going forward is to not have it on YouTube, but on a streaming channel or video on demand.

Is the plan to stay in Maine?

Originally, I planned to set it in sort of a post-industrial city like Detroit or Baltimore, but then I thought, “I can sleep in my own bed.” So I’m happy we made the decision to film here, even though we had to fly some people in. Michole loved Maine – part of it is just to get out of L.A. and be in a place where they don’t have those distractions. But it was a really huge undertaking considering the budget we had, and Mount Desert Island was a great place to be. It’s a small town, so we were already known and trusted, and everyone, from the chamber of commerce to the police to local businesses, were all so helpful. I can’t imagine how we could have done it elsewhere. That said, other places provide tax breaks, and there isn’t the infrastructure for filmmaking here. It’s possible, but we’re just a long way from knowing where we can afford and shoot going forward. It’s hard, too, if you don’t have a way to connect outside of Maine to have a national presence. (Laughs.) I’m trying to figure it out all the time. I don’t have all the answers.

The Gotham Award-winning web series “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Myes” can be seen on YouTube or its website, thestrangeeyesofdrmyes.com.

On local screens

FRONTIER (BRUNSWICK)
Ends Thursday, Dec. 14: “The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows.” This touring festival of 16 of the best animated short films from around the world offers something for everyone.

]]>Sebago’s specials are killer at all locations, but go to Gorham if you canhttp://mainetoday.com/eat-drink/bar-guide/sebagos-specials-killer-locations-go-gorham-can/
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:46:57 +0000http://mainetoday.com/?p=165442

Exterior of Sebago Brewing in Gorham.Photos by Colleen Katana

Nestled into the curve of where Elm Street turns into Robie Street in Gorham sits one of Maine’s best known brewpubs, Sebago Brewing Company. Though this is only one of four spots where you can check out the local flavor this mini Maine chain offers (other locations are in Scarborough, Portland and Kennebunk), I think it’s the best in both quality and atmosphere.

While other locations feel generic and overly spacious, this small Gorham bar felt more intimate, the sort of place you could go to with friends after work for happy hour and know the bartender by name but just as easily pop in for a quick, quiet lunch and a beer (if you’re like me and day drinking is not only allowed, but required).

The bar at Sebago Brewing in Gorham

The floors were tiled, the bar fully stocked, and overall the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly and attentive without hovering or being bothersome, quiet holiday music crooned in the background, and the walls were painted with a scene of friends on a dock overlooking the ocean.

One of my favorite things about Sebago is the amount of fun daily events and happy hours. The specials are the same at every location, as is the menu, making it easy to keep track, if you travel a lot in southern Maine and find yourself in several of the different locations. There is literally a special for every night of the week. Happy hour is weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and includes appetizer specials for $7.

But beyond the typically happy hour you can find at most bars, there are daily themed specials. Is it Monday? Pop in for Burger & a Pint night where you can get any Sebago burger, fries and your choice of Sebago pint for only $10.50 from 4 p.m. until close. Is it Sunday? Pitchers are only $12.50. Thursday? Get tenders, fries and a pint for $10.50. See a theme here? In any case, it’s a cool thing to do. And a great way for them to create loyal community and repeat customers looking for those themed deals. My favorite special they offer is Tito’s Tuesday where any Tito’s vodka cocktail is only $5.

A cocktail and an appetizer at Sebago Brewing

On my latest visit, I started with sangria ($7), which is consistently good, hitting that perfect blend of wine and fruit, fusing together nicely without being too sweet or too wine-y. Since it felt wrong to base my opinion on only one drink, I also ordered a limoncello ($8). Sebago does not skimp on the alcohol in its drinks. The limoncello was delicious, strong and citrusy, with just enough sweetness to offset the vodka and not be too candy-like. This one managed to be just the right amount of light sweetness to take the bite of the tart citrus out of the flavor.

The appetizer selection is perfect for those bar-bite hankerings we all get from time to time. The potato nachos ($9.50) were piled high in a heaping plate of waffle fries, cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, and chives with sides of sour cream and salsa. If you get there for happy hour, it’s only $7, making it a fantastic deal. The mozzarella planks were more than just your standard fried bar bite. They were a creative spin on mozzarella sticks; perfectly fried and not too heavy on the breading, they were served alongside a spicy honey sriracha sauce that was delicious and unique. At $7.50, it’s a great deal and the perfect fried starter. Granted, the happy hour price of $7 isn’t all that special (50 cents off isn’t exactly worth sitting in rush hour traffic to get there in time).

But regardless of the time of day or night, Sebago’s Gorham location is a solid choice whenever you want something fun, fast and easy.

Sebago Brewing

WHERE: 48 Elm St., GorhamPHONE: (207) 874-2337WEBSITE:sebagobrewing.comHOURS: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to TuesdayAMENITIES: Happy hour 4-7 p.m. weekdays, themed daily specials, tons of space, TVs, outdoor seating (summer), full menu at the bar, late night food and drink specials (typically beginning at 10 p.m.), trivia nightsBOTTOM LINE: More so than its other locations, Sebago’s brewpub in Gorham is cute and intimate and a solid choice if you’re looking for a bar with tons of options and lots of specials. Its menu is eclectic and solid, and the cocktail list is abundant with lots of local flair. This is a great choice whether you’re in the mood for booze, brews or bites.WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE: Yes

As a beer writer, nothing fills me with more mirth and glee than the opening of a new brewery. Emily Dickinson claimed, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” But, Ms. Dickinson, I’d argue that hope is a new brewery with shiny stainless steel tanks and fresh beer.

Thus, the recent opening of Goodfire Brewing in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood buoyed my spirits with expectant hope. In following the progress of Goodfire on social media over the past few months as they’ve built their new brewery, it’s clear that they’re dedicated to the science and art of brewing. My palate was itching to dig into their beer.

On a brisk Friday afternoon in late November, I finally had my chance.

Located in the aquamarine section of the Anderson Street building that is also home to Lone Pine Brewing, the entrance to Goodfire Brewing is on the back of the building. As I walked into the brewery and tasting room, I was immediately struck by the brilliant vibe of the old-school industrial space contrasted by the new build-out of the tasting room and the gleaming stainless steel tanks. Brick walls stretch high above the space and are marked by a beautifully aged patina that tells the story of the industrial building.

David Redding, founder and owner of Goodfire Brewing, has put together a team of science-minded, longtime homebrewers to man the mash paddles on his new 15-barrel brewing system. Redding, who developed the beer recipes, is a doctor of nephrology; Chris Beth, a brewing assistant, is a former engineer and co-owner of OhNo Cafe; and Gordon Jones, head brewer, is well known to many Portland-area homebrewers, myself included, as the brewing Zen master at Maine Brewing Supply.

Though at the time of my visit Goodfire was only pouring two IPAs, Redding and his team have plans to quickly expand their catalogue to add balanced, drinkable beers like the forthcoming saison, Tiny Wrist Circles, along with mixed fermentation, barrel-aged beers.

“We’ve been most inspired by simple, rustic, low-alcohol beers that are built on careful fermentation with mixed yeast cultures and the interaction with wood and time,” Kelly Scharf, front of the house manager, explained.

Prime has notes of grapefruit and lemongrass.

At the tasting room bar during my visit, I ordered a pour of Prime, a 6.5 percent IPA made with loads of Citra hops. The beer has a hazy, golden hue and a nice foamy head. Though the grapefruit and lemongrass notes from the Citra hops are present, the aroma and flavor was a bit muted in Prime. The beer also finished a little too dry on the palate.

Waves is an IPA made with Vic Secret hops.

After taking my last sips of Prime, I ordered the Vic Secret IPA, Waves. At 7.2 percent, Waves has a similar cloudy appearance with a bit more body. This IPA has more of a tropical fruit profile than Prime, with notes of passionfruit and mango. Again, I found there to be a muted quality to the aroma and flavor as well as an overly dry finish on this early permutation of Waves.

As the first commercial batches on a new system, it’s to be expected that it will take a few batches to truly dial in the flavors in Prime and Waves. As the Goodfire team churns out more batches on their system, I expect the flavors and aromas in both IPAs to begin to really pop. Here’s what’s clear in these beers: They both have the makings to be excellent IPAs given the ingredients in the glass and the deft team of brewers steering the ship.

Over the coming months as they release new beers, I’ll be first in line to see what Redding and his team have in store for craft beer fans.

With a striking space, a clear vision for a varied catalogue of beer, and a brewing team dedicated to the art and science of beer making, expect Goodfire Brewing to make a big noise in East Bayside.

Maine Beer Company hosts Appalachian Mountain Club happy hour

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, 525 Route 1, Freeport. On Facebook.

In accordance with the adage on their labels, “Do What’s Right,” Maine Beer Company is hosting a happy hour next Thursday to support the Appalachian Mountain Club. In addition the event at the Freeport tasting room, Maine Beer Company is hosting similar events in eight cities in other states that the Appalachian Trail passes through. Thursday’s event in Freeport will feature representatives from Maine’s chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club along with special drafts. Help Maine Beer Company “Do What’s Right” by supporting this important association.
Foulmouthed Brewing releases barrel-aged blueberry beer
3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 15 Ocean St., South Portland.

As you can see in the headline for this event, I didn’t write the name of the blueberry beer being released on Friday. I figured I’d bury it into the blurb here, because, true to the company’s name, Foulmouthed Brewing has dubbed their Belgian strong ale aged on Maine blueberries, Blue Balls. Along with its lewd nomenclature, this barrel-aged beer has plenty of complex flavors. If you’re looking for a special bottle of beer for someone on your Christmas list, give the gift of Blue Balls. You’ll not only be gifting a great beer, its name will surely bring a smile to anyone’s face.

The circus academy that is based at Thompson’s Point in Portland presents its second Winter Solstice cabaret Friday through Sunday. The weekend’s shows coincide with the movie release of “The Greatest Showman” about the circus showman and promoter P.T. Barnum, and Sunday’s performance will include a post-show discussion about the circus and a ticket-giveaway to the movie.

“This year, the theme is celebrations,” said Michael Trautman, a clown, mime and longtime performer who directs the youth performance troupe at the academy. “There’s some sort of solstice observance in almost every culture and often some sort of celebration. I am using that as my starting point.”

The performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday will include feats of skill and artistry, a nod to the circus tradition and what Trautman calls the “new circus sensibility” that focuses on acrobats, tumblers and aerial performers. Among the skills on display will be handstands, hoop-diving, juggling, human pyramids and “feats of strength and daring.”

Performer Sierra NicholsPhoto by Casey Jacques

The show will include performers from the Circus Maine youth troupe and the professional training program, as well as professional circus artists. In all, more than 30 people will perform in the 90-minute program. “We will be using all the performance skills we have,” Trautman said, promising a “spectacle” of ensemble pieces, duets and solos.

The mingling of the youth and professional performers also is a nod to Barnum and the circus tradition, Trautman said. Traditionally, circus skills were handed down from one generation to the next, as a family tradition. The weekend performances will embody that.

On Sunday, Circus Maine will host a post-show discussion and Q-and-A with performers from the professional program along with circus veterans, including physical comedian John Towsen, a Ringling Brothers alumnus and author of “Clowns”; Fred Garbo, who performed as Barkley the dog on “Sesame Street” and as the chief juggler in the Broadway musical version of “Barnum”; Cory Tabino, former Cirque du Soleil performer and Circus Maine artistic director; and Trautman, a new vaudevillian who has performed with the Big Apple Circus, New York International Festival of Clown Theater and many others.

Circus Maine also will give away tickets to the movie “The Greatest Showman” on Sunday.